EFAs May Reduce Pneumonia Risk

BOSTON--According to a study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (82, 3:668-674, 2005), researchers examining the association between intakes of essential fatty acids (EFAs) and fish and the risk of community-acquired pneumonia found intakes of omega-6 linoleic acid (LA) and omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) were associated with reduced risk of infection.

Researchers evaluated 38,378 male U.S. health professionals aged 44 to 79 years at the study outset. Participants' medical and lifestyle information was updated biennially through questionnaires, and diet was updated every four years with the use of a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Researchers excluded men who reported pneumonia, myocardial infarction, stroke, other heart disease, arterial surgery, cancer or asthma before 1990 or those with incomplete dietary data. Community-acquired pneumonia was determined by blinded medical record review of chest radiographs.

During the 10-year follow-up, 441 new cases of nonfatal community-acquired pneumonia were found. Pneumonia risk was lower in men in the highest energy-adjusted quintiles of LA and ALA intake than in men in the lowest quintiles of intake. Pneumonia risk decreased 4 percent and 31 percent for every 1 g/d increase in LA intake and ALA intake, respectively. Intakes of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid had no effect on pneumonia risk. Researchers concluded higher intakes of LA and ALA may reduce risk of pneumonia.